At one time or another, many paralegals have been
asked if, or when, they are going to law school. In the most recent
My Opinion survey, LAT wanted to know the answer to that question
and found that it’s a resounding “no.” Our survey results indicate
that 98.8 percent of respondents currently are not attending law
school, while only 1.2 percent are enrolled in law school.

Of those who are not attending law school now,
72.4 percent have no plans to attend in the future and only 27.6
percent of respondents said they are planning to go to law school
one day. “There have been occasions since I graduated from college
that I’ve seriously considered law school [but], to be honest,
especially at this point in my life, I’m very happy as a paralegal
and have absolutely no regrets about making this my career,” said
Mathew Laskowski, an 11-year senior paralegal from Manville, N.J.

Twenty-seven percent of those who are not
planning to attend law school in the future said one of the reasons
is that they don’t have the time or the money. “I have wanted to be
a lawyer for quite some time now, but the finances just don’t permit
it ...,” said Penny L. McCracken, a 14-year certified paralegal from
Cameron,
W.Va. “I love the law field and
would very much like to become [an attorney].”

For 21.8 percent, their career as a paralegal
already is professionally fulfilling. “Working for a government
agency allows me the same (and sometimes more) job satisfaction [as]
an attorney,” said a 10-year paralegal from
Grand Rapids,
Mich. “I find that my position
allows me to do the ‘fun’ part of the job such as investigations,
research, writing, discovery and interviews.”

Other reasons for not attending law school
include never having an interest in going to law school or becoming
a lawyer (13.4 percent) and not wanting the responsibility that
comes with being a lawyer (13.4 percent). “The lawyers I work with
are always on call. I can’t imagine that being worth it,” said a
20-year senior corporate paralegal from Dallas. Many respondents
also expressed an appreciation for having the ability to leave work
at work as a paralegal. “I prefer to be a professional who is not
chained to, or obsessed by, his job,” said José Pedro Santos, AACP,
a 17-year senior paralegal from Cincinnati. “To me, being
a paralegal fulfills my needs to serve others, to be respected, to
use my creative skills, to keep learning and to have a life outside
the office.”

For 12.6 percent of respondents, being a
paralegal has made them realize they never would want to become a
lawyer. “I have appreciated this profession for the vast legal
experience and flexibility it has provided me. If I had become a
lawyer (especially in litigation), I strongly believe that this
flexibility would not exist,” said Ken Isaacs, a 26-year paralegal
from San Francisco.

Additionally, several paralegals also cited
family as one of the top reasons they are happily choosing not to
attend law school now or in the future. “At one point, I did want to
be a lawyer,” said Christine M. Parizo, RP, a 4-year registered
paralegal from Northampton, Mass. “Finances prevented me from going
to law school and a friend suggested I check out a career as a
paralegal. I’m glad I did because I have found it to be very
professionally fulfilling and I still get to work reasonable hours
and have time for my family.”

Twenty-two percent of respondents who are
planning to attend law school in the future became a para-legal as a
stepping stone to becoming a lawyer; 18.6 percent are doing so
because they have hit a glass ceiling in their careers and want
more; and 17 percent want the higher salary, benefits and perks that
come with being a lawyer. Others with law school on their
educational horizon want to be able to make legal decisions on
behalf of their clients (15.2 percent) and some said being a
paralegal has made them realize they want to become a lawyer (13.6
percent). “I used to think I’d never be able to be an attorney. But
now … I think I could make a difference in some clients’ lives. I
wish I could do more for the client…,” said a 7-year paralegal from Houston.

Deborah Myers Fernandez from
Philadelphia
recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Kaplan
University
and plans to use paralegal experience as an edge in becoming a
lawyer. “I have plans to become a lawyer in the future but … the
talk of the many hours that new lawyers put in had me thinking that
I would want to gain experience as a paralegal for awhile before
going on to law school,” she said.

According to our survey results, 49.4 percent of
respondents don’t feel that they have come across more new
paralegals who are entering the field solely as a stepping stone to
law school, while 34.1 percent said they are seeing that trend. “I
teach at the local community college’s paralegal program. In the
last three years, I have seen about 25 percent of our students
complete their bachelor[’s] degree and go on to law school. It’s
great that paralegals are going into law school with the advantage
of experience in the legal field,” said Deana M. Waters, an 8-year
advanced certified paralegal from
Fairbanks, Alaska. “However, at the same time, it’s also
discouraging that some really excellent paralegals are leaving the
profession to become lawyers.”

On the other hand, Baxter Quinn Andrews, a
3-year litigation paralegal from
Boise, Idaho, is making law school plans to enhance
her chosen paralegal profession. “I would stay working as a
paralegal but would use the education to be a better paralegal,”
Andrews said.

LAT’s survey also found that most employers
(67.8 percent) don’t offer any incentives for attending law school.
Of those that offer incentives, 8.9 percent pay for some of the
costs; 2.2 percent give time off to attend law school; 1.1 percent
offer a monetary incentive; and 1.1 percent pay tuition and all
costs. Laskowski’s firm gives its paralegals who make the grade in
law school strong consideration for summer associate positions.

Still, for paralegals like Wendy Kimbel, a
30-year advanced certified freelance paralegal from
Mebane,
N.C., deciding whether or not to
go to law school isn’t a personal or financial choice, but is
dictated by supply and demand. “With four well-respected law schools
in my geographic area, lawyers are easy to find while good
paralegals are not as readily available,” Kimbel said.

Survey Results

Are you currently attending law school?

Yes: 1.2%

No: 98.8%

Are you planning to attend law school in the
future?

Yes: 27.6%

No: 72.4%

If you currently are in law school or plan to
attend in the future, what are the reasons?

I want to be able to make legal
decisions on behalf of my clients: 15.2%

I became a paralegal as a stepping
stone to becoming a lawyer: 22.0%

I want the higher salary, benefits and
perks that come with being a lawyer: 17.0%

Being a paralegal has made me realize
that I want to become a lawyer: 13.6%

I have hit a glass ceiling in my career
and want more: 18.6%

Other: 13.6%

If you are not planning to attend law school in
the future, why not?

My paralegal career is professionally
fulfilling: 21.8%

I never have been interested in going
to law school or becoming a lawyer: 13.4%

Being a paralegal has made me realize
that I never would want to become a lawyer: 12.6%

I don't want the responsibility that
comes with being a lawyer: 13.4%

I don't have the time or money to go to
law school: 27.0%

Other: 11.8%

In recent years, do you feel that you have come
across more new paralegals who are entering the field
solely as a stepping stone to law school?